Meditation counters help keep count of each circuit of 100 that you make on the mala. Each time you finish one circuit, you will pull forward one bead on the dorje counter. After 10 circuits of the mala, you will have moved all 10 beads on your dorje counter, and you will have recited 1000 mantras. They can also be used to moved each time you mediate and count to 108.